Kaiserpfalz (Emperor's Palace), Dusseldorf

The ruin of the Emperor’s Palace (Kaiserpfalz) sits in Dusseldorf’s Kaiserswerth district, a historical site rich in architectural heritage and monastic origins. This site traces back to a monastery founded around 700 AD by the Anglo-Saxon monk Suitbert(us), granted by Frankish House Emperor Pepin of Herstal and his wife Plectrude. This island monastery soon transformed into a fortified customs station, owing to its strategic position along major trade routes and visibility over the Rhine. By the early 11th century, Emperor Henry II formalized the site as a royal residence, which was further expanded by Henry III into a palatial complex. Although many original structures are lost, evidence suggests a grand Romanesque layout, including palatial halls, vaulted rooms, and a tall Bergfried (keep) used both for defense and storage.

Despite partial demolition in the 19th century and wartime exploitation, the six-meter-thick western wall endures, displaying a blend of basalt, trachyte, and tuff stone, typical of the region’s historical architecture. The 14-meter-high facade facing the Rhine hints at the palace's former grandeur, where guests would once gather in lavish banqueting halls overlooking the river. Unique features include the cistern system in the southern section for rainwater purification and the bridge connection to the Klever Tower.

Modern restoration has preserved these ruins, with significant work completed between 1997 and 2001. Today, visitors access the site via a wooden bridge, replacing the original drawbridge. Recent artistic additions, like Peter Schwickerath’s steel sculpture “Im Kontext,” offer interactive experiences, inviting visitors to engage with Kaiserswerth’s historic and architectural depth in new ways.